Reflections from a year of remote learning and unprecedented challenges.

Emily Deneen

·

Follow

4 min read

·

Jan 24, 2021

--

Listen

Share

Growth Mindset

• Done is better than perfect. I have noticed that I tend to spend a lot of time trying to find the perfect way to start something. (e.g. introductions in articles.)
• Nimbleness is a valuable skill — It is important to be able to switch gears no matter what curveballs life throws at you. (Like, you know, Covid?) The people who succeed are the ones who are willing to make changes and work with others.
• Having a regular schedule is SUPER IMPORTANT! Do your best to create a normal schedule that works for you.
• When everything’s online, it’s really easy to forget things. Set multiple reminders for classes, due dates, and office hours.
• Send your to-do list to a parent or someone you trust every day to help keep yourself accountable.
• Don’t just complain. That gets you nowhere. Instead, write a list of possible solutions.

Intellectual Curiosity

• Keep a list of things that you are curious about! This way, you can write down your thoughts with minimal distraction — plus it gives you something to research in your meantime!
• I am learning how to take better book notes. Previously, my notes had a minimal amount of detail, because I assumed my future self would remember things. Turns out, my future self is pretty forgetful, and I need more detail in my notes in order for me to write articles and share what I’ve learned.
• Before participating in a hackathon, have an action plan. If it’s possible, share it with others in your group! Don’t overlook user data.
• If you have an idea for a project, just do it. Don’t spend too much time planning or waiting for the perfect conditions. You’ll learn more, and you can always fix things as you go.
• Making connections between multiple topics is key when trying to learn a new subject. For example, during my English class, I made the connection of Thoreau’s Walden to Bill Gate’s “Think-Weeks”- — and it made the entire process of analyzing Walden much more effective. (And fun!)

Helping Others (Global Citizenship)

• The best leaders tend to have the best skill sets, and it’s important not to hide them! Let people know what you know, and how you can help.
• It’s important to reconnect with family. My family is pretty connected already, but we have been doing more video calls recently. I recommend Cards Against Humanity (Family Edition), which is a new version of the original card game — — And it’s free to download and print! :-)
• Show up for office hours and establish a relationship with your teacher/professor! I find this keeps me motivated to do classwork, and I also get to know my teacher!
• Following up is a powerful skill. Previously, I hesitated to do this because I wasn’t sure if the person was “still in the conversation”. A better mindset for me is, “If they weren’t, they are now!” (Muahaha so evil). By following up, you strengthen your connection and have a higher chance of that person giving you more help, opportunities, etc.
• Sometimes taking a step back to find out if there’s a better way to do something will help a project in the long haul. Jumping right into something isn’t always a bad thing, but stepping back gives more time to assess the situation.
• Most people want to see others succeed. It is important to share goals and put yourself out into the community. Not only will this lead to having a bigger impact on the community, but it will also help to bring more opportunities my way. I plan to put myself out there more by intentionally sharing my work and goals with teachers and mentors, and by updating my website to include goals I am actively working towards.

Health & Wellbeing

• Make time for exercise. Even just 30 minutes a day helps!
• Be sure to take short breaks to prevent burnout. The average ideal focus time is 25 minutes with 5-minute break sessions.
• It’s important to spend time doing recreational activities. Personally, I have been setting aside time to do something creative, exercise, or play outside everyday. (And hey, might I say, my legs are looking mighty fine now.)
• Ignoring problems does not make them go away. At one point I fell behind in my Trig class, and it took tons of time and effort to get back on track. This was a hard lesson to learn, and I took steps to ensure that it never happens again. Implementing my own online dashboard to keep track of assignments, setting up calendar reminders, and attending office hours have made a tremendous difference already.
• I learned that “multitasking” is overrated. Instead, try setting reminders. This way, the day becomes a lot more structured!
• Just because a project requires a long time to do, does not make it a priority. Learning to set aside projects that are not a priority is crucial to being able to focus on the work that is important. I’m actively learning to spend my time in a way that aligns with my values so I can gain the most traction. Timeboxing my schedule around my goals is proving to be a great way to do this! (Although it needs some work. ;) )
• I learned that it is important to learn how to deal with stress before I start to stress. I made a list of things that make me less stressed. Now, I can implement these whenever I stress. I suggest making one yourself!